18 FEBRUARY 2018

Power Surge Continues for Charlo

Charlo defends title in New York

By Derek Bonnett

Underneath the Berto-Porter clash at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York, Jermall Charlo defended his version of the 154-pound title with a scintillating one punch KO over Charles Hatley on Showtime. The two Texan rivals matched up well on paper, but it would be the defending champion who turned in a career-defining performance away from home.

Almost immediately, Charlo began stinging Hatley with a crisp jab that looked more of a weapon than it has in previous outings. Hatley let his hands go in round one, but he was not able to land cleanly on the more mobile Charlo. Charlo moved his jab to the body in round two and began timing Hatley well enough to find consistency with his counter left. Charlo buzzed his challenger with a stiff jab followed by a tight one-two. Charlo endured a cut over his left eye from a clash of heads late in the round, but before its conclusion he rocked Hatley with a long right hand. Charlo continued his work in round three and landed a nice left to the body. The two fighters began exchanging more, which gave Charlo his opening for a quick one-two punctuated with another right hand to score a knockdown. Hatley rose on steady legs. Hatley had his best moments in round four as he increased his pace and Charlo appeared to take a breather. The referee warned Hatley for intentionally butting the champion during a clinch along the ropes. Hatley got on his bicycle in the fifth as Charlo began stalking him with the right hand. The champion’s jab still produced good work and set up a nice counter right, which he very fluidly followed with an uppercut. The uppercut would land twice in close proximity and appeared to hurt the challenger. Charlo and Hatley went toe to toe in round six. Just as Hatley built up enough confidence to go after the champion, Charlo knocked the stuffing out of him with a beautifully launched right cross, which ended the night. Face down on the canvas, Hatley’s night was ended at the :32 mark.

Charlo, 26, lifted his ledger to 29-0-0 (14) and registered his first world title defense. Hatley, 31, fell to 26-2-1 (18). Afterwards, Charlo called out fellow titlist Jarrett Hurd to unify.